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Kapustinskii equation

Kapustinskii equation is a mathematics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Kapustinskii equation rather than just read about it. In short: The Kapustinskii equation calculates the lattice energy UL for an ionic crystal, which is experimentally difficult to determine. It is named after Anatoli Fedorovich Kapustinskii who published the formula in 1956.

Key takeaways

  • Kapustinskii equation belongs to mathematics; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Kapustinskii equation to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Kapustinskii equation from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Kapustinskii equation calculates the lattice energy UL for an ionic crystal, which is experimentally difficult to determine. It is named after Anatoli Fedorovich Kapustinskii who published the formula in 1956.

U L = K ⋅ ν ⋅ | z + | ⋅ | z − | r + + r − ⋅ ( 1 − d r + + r − ) {\displaystyle U_{L}={K}\cdot {\frac {\nu \cdot |z^{+}|\cdot |z^{-}|}{r^{+}+r^{-}}}\cdot {\biggl (}1-{\frac {d}{r^{+}+r^{-}}}{\biggr )}}

The calculated lattice energy gives a good estimation for the Born–Landé equation; the real value differs in most cases by less than 5%. Furthermore, one is able to determine the ionic radii (or more properly, the thermochemical radius) using the Kapustinskii equation when the lattice energy is known. This is useful for rather complex ions like sulfate (SO2−4) or phosphate (PO3−4).

Derivation from the Born–Landé equation

Kapustinskii originally proposed the following simpler form, which he faulted as "associated with antiquated concepts of the character of repulsion forces".

U L = K ′ ⋅ ν ⋅ | z + | ⋅ | z − | r + + r − {\displaystyle U_{L}={K'}\cdot {\frac {\nu \cdot |z^{+}|\cdot |z^{-}|}{r^{+}+r^{-}}}}

Here, K' = 1.079×10−4 J·m·mol−1. This form of the Kapustinskii equation may be derived as an approximation of the Born–Landé equation, below.

U L = − N A M z + z − e 2 4 π ϵ 0 r 0 ( 1 − 1 n ) {\displaystyle U_{L}=-{\frac {N_{A}Mz^{+}z^{-}e^{2}}{4\pi \epsilon _{0}r_{0}}}\left(1-{\frac {1}{n}}\right)}

Kapustinskii replaced r0, the measured distance between ions, with the sum of the corresponding ionic radii. In addition, the Born exponent, n, was assumed to have a mean value of 9. Finally, Kapustinskii noted that the Madelung constant, M, was approximately 0.88 times the number of ions in the empirical formula. The derivation of the later form of the Kapustinskii equation followed similar logic, starting from the quantum chemical treatment in which the final term is 1 − ⁠d/r0⁠ where d is as defined above. Replacing r0 as before yields the full Kapustinskii equation.

See also Born–Haber cycle

References

Literature Kapustinsky, A. (1933-01-01). "Allgemeine Formel für die Gitterenergie von Kristallen beliebiger Struktur". Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie (in German). 22B (1). Walter de Gruyter GmbH: 257. doi:10.1515/zpch-1933-2220. ISSN 2196-7156. S2CID 202045251. A. F. Kapustinskii; Zhur. Fiz. Khim. Nr. 5, 1943, pp. 59 ff.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Kapustinskii equation

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Kapustinskii equation claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In mathematics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Kapustinskii equation before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Kapustinskii equation ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Kapustinskii equation

In research
Kapustinskii equation appears in mathematics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Kapustinskii equation in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Kapustinskii equation is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Chemical bonding, Crystallography, Soviet inventions, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Kapustinskii equation outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Kapustinskii equation in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Kapustinskii equation means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Kapustinskii equation out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kapustinskii equation in simple terms?

The Kapustinskii equation calculates the lattice energy UL for an ionic crystal, which is experimentally difficult to determine. It is named after Anatoli Fedorovich Kapustinskii who published the formula in 1956.

Why does Kapustinskii equation matter?

Because it connects several mathematics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Kapustinskii equation?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Kapustinskii equation.

Tags

  • Chemical bonding
  • Crystallography
  • Soviet inventions

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